Transmigrated into the villain? Watch my epic comeback in the ethereal fairy realm!

As soon as Dai Yao stepped into the gloomy main hall of the Demon Palace, she felt a chill that went straight to her bones, not from the building itself, but from the scrutinizing gazes around her.

The disciples of the Demon Palace gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves, their eyes scanning her as if she were a suspicious object.

The air was thick with suspicion and distrust, so oppressive it was suffocating.

She knew that although the candied hawthorn fairy's disguise had temporarily fooled Su Yao, it could not deceive those in the Demon Palace who knew her inside and out.

"Dai Yao, where did you sneak off to?" A cold voice broke the eerie silence.

Luo Feng, the captain of the Demon Palace guards, was a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator with a burly build and sharp, hawk-like eyes. He was staring intently at her.

Dai Yao's heart tightened, but her face was plastered with a nonchalant smile: "Brother Luo Feng, what are you talking about? Where could I possibly go? I'm just going out for some fresh air."

"Going for some fresh air? You went all the way to the mortal market?" Luo Feng approached step by step, his tone aggressive. "As far as I know, you spent a whole day in the market! A disciple of the Demon Palace, instead of cultivating in the palace, you went to the mortal world to fool around. What exactly are you up to?"

The demon palace servants around them also gathered around, their eyes burning with anticipation, as if waiting for a good show.

Dai Yao felt like prey surrounded by hunters, unable to escape.

"Brother Luo Feng, you've misunderstood!" Dai Yao tried her best to remain calm and explained with feigned grievance, "I... I just went to see what new things there were, I didn't do anything bad."

"A novelty?" Luo Feng sneered. "You, a disciple of the Demon Palace, are so interested in mortal things? I think you have ulterior motives!" He grabbed Dai Yao's wrist with such force that he almost crushed her bones.

"Tell me! What exactly are you up to?"

Dai Yao winced in pain, inwardly cursing Luo Feng for being so clueless about romance.

Just as she was about to speak in her defense, she saw that Luo Feng's gaze was becoming increasingly sharp, and the servants around her were also restless, as if they would swarm and seize her if she made the slightest move.

The situation was more dire than she had imagined. She knew that if things continued like this, she would be exposed. She had to find a way to escape…

Dai Yao's eyes suddenly reddened, tears welling up. She abruptly shook off Luo Feng's hand, took a few steps back, and covered her face...

Dai Yao's eyes suddenly reddened, and large tears rolled down her cheeks one by one. She cried so hard that her face was covered in tears, making her look pitiful.

"Brother Luo Feng, how could you wrong me like this! I... everything I did was for the Demon Palace!"

The cries echoed in the main hall, mournful and aggrieved.

Everyone was stunned, looking at Dai Yao's sudden change of expression with confusion.

Luo Feng was at a loss. He had never seen Dai Yao so vulnerable before, and a pang of pity rose in his heart.

"For the Demon Palace?" he repeated, puzzled.

Dai Yao choked up and cried even louder.

“I heard…I heard that a rare treasure appeared in the market, possessing the power to turn the tide of battle, so I…I risked going there to bring it back and help the Demon Palace regain its former glory…” She sobbed, speaking haltingly, “But…but you all doubt me so much, I…I’m truly heartbroken!”

These words stunned everyone present.

A miraculous treasure that can turn the tide?

This is undoubtedly a huge temptation for the now-declining Demon Palace.

Luo Feng's originally firm gaze began to waver. He looked at Dai Yao, who was crying her heart out, and a sense of guilt rose in his heart.

Could it be that he really misunderstood her?

Seeing that Luo Feng's expression softened, Dai Yao pressed her advantage and cried even more bitterly.

"My sincere heart has been met with such suspicion. Brother Luo Feng, how could you... how could you be worthy of my loyalty to the Demon Palace?" She pointed at Luo Feng, her tone filled with accusation, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

The surrounding servants began to whisper among themselves, their gazes towards Luo Feng now filled with more skepticism.

Luo Feng was caught off guard by Dai Yao's sudden accusation. He had always been loyal to the Demon Palace and never thought that his loyalty to the Demon Palace would be questioned.

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but found himself speechless.

Dai Yao cried even more bitterly, as if she had suffered a great blow.

Luo Feng felt even more guilty, and his tone softened, "Dai Yao, I... I don't distrust you, it's just..."

"Just what?" Dai Yao suddenly looked up, her eyes brimming with tears as she glared at Luo Feng. "You just think that I, a weak woman, am incapable of contributing to the Demon Palace? Brother Luo Feng, you underestimate me!"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and said firmly, "I know that the Demon Palace is currently facing difficulties, and the righteous sects are eyeing it covetously. Although my cultivation level is not high, I am willing to dedicate everything I have to the Demon Palace!"

Luo Feng's expression changed several times. Finally, he sighed, his tone tinged with apology, "Dai Yao, I misunderstood you."

Dai Yao wiped away her tears and gave a sad smile.

“Brother Luo Feng, I believe you are only suspicious of me because you care about the Demon Palace. Now that the righteous sects are making moves, we should unite as one to fight against the foreign enemy.”

She paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes. "My trip wasn't entirely fruitless. I've learned some things about the righteous sects' plans..." She deliberately lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously, "I think this information is crucial for the Demon Palace."

Luo Feng immediately perked up, "What news?"

Dai Yao smiled slightly, her tone firm and unwavering, "I would like to review the Demon Palace's intelligence records regarding the righteous faction." Her gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the intelligence chief—an elderly man with a gloomy face and sunken eyes.

The old man sneered, "Intelligence records are confidential to the Demon Palace; how dare you browse them at will?"

Dai Yao wasn't annoyed. She simply smiled faintly, took out a jade slip from her sleeve, and waved it in front of everyone. "Master, I accidentally obtained some information at the market, which may be related to the righteous sects' encirclement plan." She deliberately kept the contents of the jade slip a secret, which only made the old man more curious.

The old man narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the jade slip in Dai Yao's hand, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.

Although the jade slip looked ordinary, the old man keenly sensed that it contained an unusual aura.

He hesitated. If there were really any important clues in the jade slip, it would be a great loss if he missed them.

Just then, a sudden change occurred! A burly guard suddenly sprang to his feet, his long sword pointed directly at Dai Yao, "Traitor! Don't even think about bewitching people!"

Dai Yao was prepared and dodged the fatal blow with a quick movement.

There was no panic on her face, but rather a cold smile appeared on her face. "So it was you who was so eager to jump out, Zhang San."

Zhang San? Everyone was stunned. They were familiar with this name. He was a senior guard of the Demon Palace and always loyal. Why would he suddenly attack Dai Yao?

Dai Yao sneered and pointed at the longsword in Zhang San's hand, "This sword isn't a standard weapon of the Demon Palace, is it? I remember it's the unique weapon of the righteous 'Qingyun Sect'—the Qingyun Sword!"

The crowd gasped and looked at the long sword in Zhang San's hand. Sure enough, the sword was engraved with the symbol of the Qingyun Sect!

Zhang San's expression changed drastically. He wanted to explain, but found himself unable to defend himself.

Dai Yao pressed on, "What else do you have to say? Who ordered you to infiltrate the Demon Palace?"

Zhang San's eyes flickered. Finally, he gritted his teeth and thrust his longsword at Dai Yao. "Since you've discovered me, let's die together!"

Dai Yao dodged the attack again. At the same time, a dagger appeared in her hand without her noticing. With a flash of cold light, the dagger accurately pierced Zhang San's chest.

Zhang San stared wide-eyed at Dai Yao in disbelief, blood gushing from his mouth. Finally, he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The hall was deathly silent as everyone stared in shock at what was happening before their eyes.

Dai Yao slowly sheathed her dagger, her face expressionless.

She glanced around at the crowd, her tone icy, "Anyone else want to try?"

Everyone fell silent, too afraid to meet Dai Yao's gaze.

Dai Yao curled her lips into a cold smile, turned around and walked towards the intelligence room. "Supervisor, may I now view the intelligence records?"

The old man, pale-faced and trembling, nodded. He finally understood that this seemingly frail woman was far more dangerous than he had imagined.

The door to the intelligence room slowly opened, and Dai Yao walked in. The door behind her slowly closed... With a "click," it locked.

The intelligence room was piled high with scrolls and jade slips, and Dai Yao quickly browsed through the clues about the righteous sects' encirclement and suppression plan.

The information was chaotic and difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood, but it also gave her a whiff of conspiracy.

This is not simply a matter of the righteous forces wanting to wipe out the Demon Palace; it seems there is an unseen hand manipulating everything from behind the scenes.

Dai Yao's eyes turned cold; it seemed things were more complicated than she had imagined.

She sensed a faint fluctuation of energy emanating from deep within the intelligence room.

There was a hidden stone door there, almost blending into the wall, which she would have hardly noticed if not for her keen sense of luck.

Dai Yao's lips curled into a confident smile. "Interesting. It seems the true secret of the Demon Palace is hidden here." She lightly touched the mechanism, and the stone door opened with a click, revealing a dark entrance.

A putrid stench hit me, making me want to vomit.

Dai Yao walked in without hesitation, and the stone door slowly closed behind her.

"Heh, I'll see what's hidden inside..." A deep voice echoed from the darkness: "You've finally come..."